Overview

Plymouth University is one of the largest universities in the UK, with over 23,000 students, including around 2,000 international students from over 100 countries, enrolled. It can trace its roots back to the Plymouth School of Navigation, founded in 1862 and was formally given full university status in 1992.

Plymouth was awarded the Queen's Anniversary Prize in 2012 for its worldwide reputation for marine and maritime education and research and 11 subjects were recently rated among the top ten in the UK for student satisfaction. The city is also ranked 11th in the UK for most cost-effective places to study. Over 12,000 Plymouth University students per year benefit from placements and work-based learning.

It is currently the only post-1992 university to have its own medical school, and has strong partnerships with other universities and institutions in the south west. Various departments have undergone much development in recent years, particularly the library and student union, faculties of Health and Education and Society and Marine Science. Plymouth University programmes in Computer Science, Civil Engineering, Geography and Environmental Science, and Art and Design also rank highly nationally.

Services for International Students

The International Student Advice Service run orientation programmes at the beginning of the year as well as a meet and greet service from Heathrow Airport. Orientation covers the campus and departments as well as general information about the area and British culture. The School of Tourism runs a weekly Languages Café, where students can meet in an informal setting to talk with native speakers of different languages.

Ranking

86th in the Times University Guide 2018

78th in the Guardian University Guide 2018

Plymouth University is ranked in the top 40 global modern universities according to the Times Higher Education ‘100 Under 50’, and is also the top green university in the UK, according to the latest People & Planet Green League.

The 2014 Research Excellence Framework classed the University as a top 50 UK research institution, and the output in Clinical Medicine was rated above powerhouses such as Oxford, Cambridge and UCL. Nearly two-thirds of research was graded as ‘world-leading’ or ‘international quality’.

Accommodation

All new undergraduates are guaranteed a place in Plymouth University accommodation for their first year of study. There are six halls available on campus with a further six off campus. Most rooms are en suite, and are in flats of between 3 and 11 people with a shared kitchen. Many halls also have studio apartments available, and all are either in or within walking distance of the main campus and the city centre.

Location

Plymouth is a city on the south coast of England with a long history as a port and shipbuilding city, currently hosting the largest naval base in Western Europe. Entertainment in the city centre features many clubs, bars, restaurants and theatres and the city’s coastal location also makes it very popular for watersports, including surfing in the summer months and boating.